What’s a Hoosier Anyway?

Last week my family and I set out on our longest road trip to date. Minneapolis, MN to Bloomington, IN. I can’t believe I didn’t discuss road trips in my earlier blogs . . . isn’t this the season dedicated to hours in the car eating junk food, listening to the radio and counting cows?! I feel like it’s a rite of passage for every American child, and mine were totally up for the challenge.

Backing out of the driveway, my hubby had ‘Holiday Road’ blaring from the speakers (all great road trips must pay homage to Nat’l Lampoons Vacation, whether Aunt Edna is with you or not) and both boys were armed with their favorite movies, headphones and snacks for days. I planned to use these hours to catch up on email, sort through photos on my phone and make sure our family calendar was on point when we returned. But, as always, motion sickness set in half way through my first email and in lieu of being productive, I counted cows.

I feel like when we travel, we throw all rules out the windows. Bed times, nutrition, screen time, all take a back seat to accommodate the road trippin’ timeline. So, when we made our first stop in Chicago, already past the boy’s bedtime, it was fitting that we entered the lobby of the hotel to some serious bass, dark lights and a bar full of 20-somethings in their finest “I’m looking for a date” fashions. The lobby bar was a total club scene and there I stood with my family, covered in chip crumbs, ice cream spills and backpacks full of stuffed animals and dinosaurs. (Parenthood sure does change a Saturday night.) We definitely cramped the cool-kids weekend vibes and found immediate refuge up a few levels in our room. My kids were thrilled to be up way past their bed time, ordering pizza in bed and watching the Olympics. And if that wasn’t good enough, just like in a movie, outside our huge picture window, over-looking Lake Michigan, a fireworks show erupted right in front of us and for the first time in 8 hours, we were all silent, staring out the window. What a treat!! I could get used to this. But all good things must come to an end and all good kids must hit the hay (as my dad would say), lights were soon out and we were all happily in bed.

The next day, we had breakfast in bed, went swimming in the rooftop pool and took the boys on the Navy Pier ferris wheel before packing back up. Next stop: Bloomington, IN. The home of Indiana University, my husband’s Alma Mater. He’s a third generation Hoosier and couldn’t be more proud. By the time we arrived on campus, he was already plotting out what fraternity our boys would pledge, where they will live on campus and how to get the best seats at Assembly Hall for a little IU Bball. (Side note: I really love his love of his school, but grooming our boys this early in life is just not fair to me and my hometown University of MN Golden Gopher pride. Not to mention, I’ll never stop crying if my boys move that far away from me. A counter plan to keep my boys in MN begins now . . . I’ll keep you posted on the progress.) We quickly jumped out of the car and did a walking tour through campus. Even though IU is a rival Big Ten school to my U o MN, I have to admit, that campus is beautiful!!! After a dinner at one of his favorite restaurants, my husband took the boys to the book store to load up on all things Hoosier red and white. Outfits, posters, stuffed animals (are you kidding me?? This is too much), my boys emerged from the store looking like the newest freshman recruits. We checked IU off our road trip list and got to bed, the next day we were taking off for destination number three.

Lake Wawasee, in Syracuse, IN is where my husband spent every summer of his childhood. Leaving IU and driving north to Lake Wawasee, my boys were already in their swim trunks, sunscreen on, ready to dive into the water as soon as we arrived. Pulling into the cottage my husband spent weeks at as a kid, we made this insanely long road trip, worth every minute. The lake is clear and clean, there are boats and jet skis and toys for everyone. And the cottage is a perfect setting to enjoy the final few days of summer.

My oldest, William, has a brand new Go Pro that he proudly wore as he jumped in the lake and sped around on the jet ski. James, our baby (fine. He’s almost 5, but will always be my baby) worked up the courage to make the giant lily pad his stomping grounds. We swam, boated, ate and repeated for 36 hours! It was mostly marvelous, with just a few minor meltdowns. I mean no family of four can go 36 hours without a few meltdowns over whose turn it is anyway and who was really responsible for dropping the brand new Go Pro and letting it sink to the bottom of the lake . . . right? Right. Other than a few minor mishaps, we returned each night to the cottage a brand new shade of tan (even though we wear a lot of sunscreen) and a whole new level of exhausted.

It was bittersweet packing up for our final voyage, not only because I simply adore time with my three boys, but also because Syracuse, IN to Minneapolis, MN is no joke. About 10 hours, with stops and a nasty rain storm, to get back to home sweet home. But on our way home, there was definitely a sense of pride from all four of us. The kids were thrilled with the new adventures and are already plotting ways to permanently eat breakfast in bed. My husband was beaming with pride that his family had a blast in his favorite state. And I, to be real honest, am thrilled that I was able to keep this family unit in one piece, without massive meltdown for a total of 1000+ miles across the Midwest. Phew.

Thanks for taking this road trip with me! Next stop: Vancouver with my college roomies . . .

1 thought on “What’s a Hoosier Anyway?”

Melissa-I was going through the Evine blog fir the first time and read your account of your summer vacation. I am a born and bred “Hoosier” and I am so proud of my Hoosier roots.

There are many stories as to what a “Hoosier” is…I have heard and repeated all to out of state friends/colleagues and students through the years w/humor and jest. Mt favorite is one I just heard in a local PBS broadcast of the history of Indiana. A “historian” stated that a “Hoosier” is someone who is “emotionally attached to Indiana”. I liked that…and it rang so true to me. I am emotionally attached to my home state with all the good and the bad.

I know IU Bloomimgton so well. My husband graduated from IU (I attended a much smaller, private college in Indpls) and like your husband has such fond memories and still to this day he recalls wonderful time spent at campus housing and later apartments. We still attend campus games and functions and love walking through and still discovering this gorgeous campus and all it has to offer. We enjoy the campus in the summer when it is much more quiet and local restaurants are no longer crowded w/long waits. The best!!!

Lake Wawasee…you struck a cord. My fav, all time vacation was when our family rented a cottage for a week (and as a family we had done it all, California, Florida, Michigan, Canada, DC, New Jersey ocean front, Smokey Mountains). Grandparents and cousins came and went for a day or two. I can still hear that wonderful sound of a screen door banging shut and the scent of an outboard motor revving its engine wafting across the lake. I recall ski shows right in front of our cottage. I have renewed my love affair w/Wawasee in staying at the Oakwood, a re-energized old time church camp that is now a hotel and open to the public. I have stayed at the Oakwood on girlfriend trips, w/hubby and grandsons, in every season. The absolute best. No breakfast in bed, no roof top pool but has such a quiet charm especially during the week. Yes, the lake is more crowded w/boats, jet skis, etc. and the “cottages” (many) have been foresaken for McMansions but the lake is still clear, there remains a soft sandy bottom (unheard of in our man made lakes w/clay bottoms) and the scents and sounds remain the same. Did you hear the sound of the train echoing across the lake (several times of day and night)? I suspect when I stayed during fall (wonderful weather…warm enough to swim in late September/early October)….that the sound was more frequent in shipping fall’s bounty of grain/wheat from the rich surrounding farmland.

Your summer travels rang so true w/me. Thank you for sharing. I have yet to spend the night in Chicago, just day trips. Your description was lovely and so exciting to share w/your “guys”, especially the idea of sharing a fireworks display from your room.

I loved your all so true comments that no vacation is w/out angst and tears. So true w/our two grandsons just a year apart. They adore one another and I dare any one oerson to speak against a “brother” w/in earshot…..but geeze…the silly bickering. And, like your family there seems to always be new “toy” that existed for a mere NY minute before disappearing from the planet Earth…hence the finger pointing and recapitulation. Oh me oh my…

What a trip….1000 miles. A testament to you and your husband as parents.